Understanding and Challenging Stigma toward ... - Pact Cambodia

Annex A:12
Code of Conduct for the
Police
Every individual has the right to feel safe and to feel protected. Occasionally, police
officers do not deal with crimes reported by men who have sex with men (MSM)
seriously. All police officers should adopt the following practices to ensure equal
treatment of all people. Men who have sex with men who report a crime should be
treated like anyone else.
In dealing with MSM victims of crime and violence
Validate the victim’s experience and do not blame the victim.
MSM victims may have feelings of self-hatred or discomfort toward their
sexuality and, therefore, may feel the violence is deserved. It is part of your job
to remind the victim that violence is never acceptable.
Identity (e.g., sexual orientation or gender identity) of the individual should be
handled with care. It is important to keep in mind that trauma is being
experienced and disclosing the sexual orientation of an MSM could increase the
trauma.
If the crime and/or violence committed was due to anti-MSM statements, these
statements should be included in the report.
Don’t expect a certain type of behavior from the victim and do not base your
desire to help on how he behaves.
Remember some basic duties of being a police officer:
Seeking justice
Re-establishing a sense of safety
Alleviating trauma and supporting the victim(s)
Decreasing violence and preventing future incidents
Finding the perpetrator and holding him or her accountable
Empowering and comforting local communities affected by the trauma
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